[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 24 (Thursday, March 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1671-S1672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF SERGEANT PHILIP SVITAK

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, this week during the war 
against terror in Afghanistan America lost eight soldiers and Nebraska 
lost a native son. These soldiers died valiantly protecting the rights, 
ideals, values, and way of life that Americans enjoy.
  Sgt. Philip Svitak, a member of the Second Battalion, 160th Special 
Operations Aviation Regiment, was born in Lincoln and raised in 
Fremont. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1989 and entered the 
Army where he served in the Gulf War.
  Sgt. Svitak's parents have said that growing up, he dreamed of a 
career with the military service. His favorite gifts would be colored 
the familiar green olive drab. But he also enjoyed

[[Page S1672]]

fixing things, hunting, and skateboarding. He loved his wife, Laura, 
and their two young sons, Nolan and Ethan. Before departing for 
Afghanistan, he told his family that ``the terrorists have to be 
stopped.'' Philip has made the ultimate contribution.
  Those who knew Sgt. Svitak will remember him as a levelheaded and 
caring friend and father. Those of us who did not, will remember him as 
well, as a brave and dedicated soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice 
for a forever grateful nation.
  We thank Sgt. Svitak for his service and his sacrifices. Our thoughts 
and prayers are with his family and the families of other servicemen 
and women as they endure their loss of their loved ones who have been 
killed defending our freedom.

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